signals_wikipedia

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Goes well beyond the annotations by disclosing the exact endpoint (en.wikipedia.org/w/api.php?action=query&list=exturlusage), the absence of auth/API keys, the external rate limit (~1 request/second fair-use), and the return shape (article titles and URLs). With annotations already covering the safety profile, this adds genuinely useful operational context.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Tight and front-loaded: the action comes first, then the implementation detail, then the rationale. The LLM-training-corpus sentence is longer than strictly necessary but carries decision-relevant motivation, so it largely earns its place.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

An output schema exists, so return-value explanation is not required, yet the description still summarizes it. Combined with the endpoint, rate limit, auth status, and lang guidance, nothing an agent needs to invoke this correctly is missing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so baseline is 3, but the description adds a usage hint for lang ('Use lang to query non-English Wikipedias') that is not present in the schema's own field description. It does not characterize limit, leaving that to the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a precise verb and resource ('List Wikipedia articles that reference the given domain'), which cleanly separates it from the broader signals_* and citations_* siblings. An agent can identify the tool's job without reading the schema.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Provides clear context for why and when to reach for it ('highest-lift signal for LLM training corpora') and how to extend it with lang. However, it never names a sibling it competes with or states an exclusion, so it stops short of explicit alternative routing.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.